Saints re-sign defensive end Keyunta Dawson

Outside linebacker-defensive end Keyunta Dawson, who joined the Saints six weeks into the 2013 season, has accepted a new one-year deal from the team.

The deal is for a veteran minimum salary of $855,000, and it includes an undisclosed signing bonus, said Dawson’s agent, Jarrett Smith. It will carry a cap figure of $575,000.

Dawson was picked up three days after being cut by Tennessee. He proved to be instrumental in a close win in Atlanta on Nov. 21, recording half a sack and forcing a key fumble. He then missed six of the last seven games with a hurt calf, but he clearly showed enough to warrant another contract from the Saints.

Dawson, a Shreveport native, is in his sixth year in the NFL. He is 28 years old, finished the 2013 campaign with three solo tackles and got in on two others.

The Saints’ director of player personnel, Ryan Pace, called the acquisition of Dawson one of his proudest moments of the past season, especially after the Atlanta victory.

“Those are the moves that we have the most pride in,” Pace said at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in January. “Those are the moves that you really feel like you’ve done a lot of work on those guys, and then they come in and play well.”